Fruit-drier



(No Model.) Z-Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. CRAWFORD.

FRUIT DRIER.

No. 279,719. Patented June 19,1883.

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(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.7

A. CRAWFORD.

FRUIT DRIER. No. 279,719. v Patented June 19,1883.

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PATENT Orricn.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 279,719, dated June 19, 1883.

- Application filed March13,1883. (NomodelJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM CRAWFORD, of

. Sebastopol, countyof Sonoma, State of Califor- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of my drier with a portion of the end, the side, and theroof broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior.-

In a suitable structure or house I build a brick wall, inclosing an elongated rectangular space or parallelogram. In order to give a proper idea of the general shape of this foundation, I will state that, upon alarge scale, it is about thirty-three feet long bynine feet wide. This foundation is simply indicated in Fig. 2, and is not otherwise shown. Upon the foundation are set studding or posts A, of wood, standing on the outer edge of the wall, which, being thicker, furnishes some protection against the heat. Bolted to the posts A, at their bottoms, are transverse iron bars forming the sills B of the structure, Fig. 3. These are placed at iutervals of, say, three feet throughoutthe length of the drier. To the side of the sills are bolted vertical ironbars C. These have their bottoms twisted, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to bolt them in the manner shown-that is, with their sides parallel to the sides of the drier. They occupy the center of the structure, in line with the outside posts, A, and extend up above the posts to support the iron bar D, which forms the ridge-pole, and is seen in Fig. 3.

E are the rafters, made of iron bars having twisted ends, whereby they may be bolted to posts A, and may fit over and lie up on the ridgepole D, as shown in Fig. 3. The top of the central bars, 0, is formed into a bolt, 0, which passes up through the ridge-pole and through the overlapping ends of the rafters E, and receives a nut, e, on top, whereby the parts may be tightened up.

Bolted to the central bars, G, throughout the length of .the structure are the longitudinal braces -F. These consist of angle-iron, and, while serving to brace the device, serve also as supports for the transverse guides G. These are also made of angle-iron, and their ends are bolted to the posts A and their centers to the braces F. In order to support them, I bolt short strips of angleiron H to the upright bars C, as many as may be desired, between the long bars F. These support other guides G, and thus the structure is provided with as many guides as I may desire. These angled bars G form guides for the trays I, (shown in Fig. 2,) which are slid in upon them, one above the other.

In order to direct all the heat up through the trays, I lay sheet-metal strips or platesi upon the angled supports F H, between the adjacent guides G, thus preventing the heat from being wasted between the trays.

J represents the hinged doors to afford ac cess to the trays. The ends of the structure are inclosed with timber. The roof is formed of sheet-iron, extending from the caves to within a short distance of the ridge-pole, where it stops, thus leaving. an opening, 7., for ve11 tilation the entire length of the device. This opening is necessary to allow the moisture to escape, but in case of a fire within it would afford toostrong a draft. In order to provide for this, I hinge on one side, to the upper edge of the sheet-iron roof, a curved cap, L, also made of sheet-i1-on, whieh is adapted to fit down over the ridge and close the opening 1:. Normally it is held open by means of a rope, M, which passes up over a pulley, m, Fig. 2, in the main building and down to someconvenient fastening. Then it is desired to close opening 70, the rope is released and the cap L falls down over it of its own weight.

Upon the roof K are longitudinal timbers.

manner in which the sheets are lapped, but by the timbers N effectually covering the corners. The sheet-iron roofing is bolted from below to these timbers, the bolts passing down .there is no danger, and they answer the pur- The high degree of heat which pose as well. the fruit-drying process requires makes it a matter of importance to have as little wood about the drier as possible. The center of the device is always the hottest, while the moisture keeps the temperature of the sides and ends somewhat reduced, and therefore in my structure I have made the center of the machine of iron, and have placed what little wood is necessary upon the sides and ends.

This device cannot burn up, but is durable and strong. It is constructed in the simplest manner, and yet in the most efficient. The angle-guides are well adapted for the trays, and all the supports are well and advantageously placed.

In the brick foundation any suitable arrange ment of pipe and heating apparatus may be used.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fruit-drier, the studding or posts and the iron cross-sills B, in combination with the central iron bars, 0, bolted to the sills and having their tops formed into bolts 0, the iron ridge-pole D, and iron rafters E, said pole and rafters fitting down over bolts 0, and secured by nutse, substantially as herein described.

2. I11 a fruit-drier, the studding or posts A and iron sills B, in combination with vertical iron bars C, the longitudinal angleiron braces or supports F, the intervening horizontal short angle-iron supports, H, and the angle-iron trayguides G, substantially as herein described.

3. In a fruit-drier, the studding or postsA and iron sills B, in combination with the ver tical iron bars 0, the angle-iron braces or supports I*, the horizontal short angle-iron supports H, the angle-iron trayguides G, and the sheets of metal i, laid upon the supports F H between the adjacent trayguides, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

4. In a fruit-drier, the studding or posts A, iron sills B, and vertical iron bars 0, in combination with the, iron ridge-pole D and the iron rafters E, bolted to the posts A and secured upon the bars 0, as described, and the sheet-metal roof K and longitudinal timbers N thereon to which it is bolted, substantially as herein described.

In a fruit-drier, the studding or posts A, the iron sills B, and vertical iron bars C, in combination with the' iron ridge-pole D, iron rafters E, sheet-iron roof K, said roof stopping short. of the ridge-pole 011 each side, whereby an. opening, 7c, is formed, and the hinged curved sheet-iron cap L, adapted to close the opening when necessary, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

6. A fruit-drier consisting of the studding or posts A, the iron sills B, vertical iron bars,

0, angle-iron supports F H, angle-iron trayguides G, iron ridge-pole D, iron rafters E, sheet-iron roof K, having opening 7:, and hinged iron cap L, all arranged and secured together in the manner described, and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand.

ADAM CRAJVFORD.

\Vitnesses:

V. H. XVILsoN, THOMAS BEAooM. 

